$11.5 million increase to shelters and counselling, but no news on Sexual Violence Support services

Last week, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues Lisa McLeod announced a $11.5 million increase to shelters and counselling services. While we laud this investment as positive for our shelter sisters and counselling services, this announcement created significant confusion among Ontario sexual assault centres and other violence support services.

In March 2018, the Province of Ontario launched a strategy which would see a significant increase in funding for Ontario sexual assault centres. At that time, the government — and sexual violence support service providers alike – praised the plan, which aimed to help survivors of sexual violence “get the support they need, when they need it”.

Yet despite this commitment – and our attempts for information on it from regional and provincial government – this funding increase has yet to become reality. Read OCRCC’s response here.